Mechanical behavior of waste rock-based geopolymer as a sustainable backfill material: Strength evolution and fracture mechanisms
Green backfill materials enhance slope stability and support sustainable mining in open-pit mines. However, current research mainly focuses on traditional loose fills, neglecting eco-friendly cementitious alternatives. In this study, the potential of waste rock-based geopolymers as mine backfilling...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Polymer Testing |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0142941825001400 |
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| Summary: | Green backfill materials enhance slope stability and support sustainable mining in open-pit mines. However, current research mainly focuses on traditional loose fills, neglecting eco-friendly cementitious alternatives. In this study, the potential of waste rock-based geopolymers as mine backfilling materials were proved. Specifically, the compressive strength test was conducted to evaluate the effect of materials interaction, aggregate gradation index, alkali activator dosage, water-to-binder ratio and waste rock utilization rate on the strength. And acoustic emission (AE) technology was used to clarify fracture mechanisms of materials. Results demonstrated high-temperature treatment improves the compressive and flexural strength of waste rock-based paste, with calcined waste rock powder effectively enhancing fly ash reactivity. Increasing slag replacement reduces compressive strength linearly, with 5 MPa decline per 10 % increase in slag content. In addition, specimens with on-site gradation aggregate or higher alkali activator dosage exhibit superior strength. The water-binder ratio around 0.4 and 1:5 waste rock utilization ratio enhances reaction dynamic, maximizing compressive strength. Furthermore, the stress-strain process includes four distinct stages: the compaction and elastic stage, stable crack growth stage, unstable crack growth stage and the post-peak stage. Failure patterns predominantly feature single-slope shear fractures, with cracks concentrated in middle and upper areas of specimen. This study contributes to sustainable resource utilization and green mine construction. |
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| ISSN: | 1873-2348 |